Methods and systems for managing device bandwidth usage

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling a wireless device by a user based on bandwidth used when the device is connected to a network are disclosed. The bandwidth used by a process when the wireless device is connected to a network is determined. Information associating the value of the bandwidth used by the process when connected to the network, with at least one characteristic of the network is provided. A bandwidth management profile that identifies what process is allowed to be executed on each network is generated. The bandwidth management profile is used to determine whether the process should be executed on the network.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 generating in a wireless device a bandwidth management profile for a process, the bandwidth management profile identifying a plurality of networks on which the process may execute, the bandwidth management profile identifying a set of rules to control what process will be executed, the rules being based on a measurement of the bandwidth used by the process when the wireless device is connected to each one of the plurality of networks, the costs associated with the bandwidth used in each one of the plurality of networks, and the performance of each one of the networks, and wherein each rule is further based on heuristics regarding the current network conditions and current situational conditions; 
 receiving a request to execute the process; 
 responsive to receiving the request:
 selecting, based on current network conditions, a selected network from the plurality of networks identified in the bandwidth management profile; and 
 selecting, based on current situational conditions, a rule from the set of rules for the selected network identified in the bandwidth management profile; and 
 
 executing the process on the selected network in accordance with the selected rule. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 categorizing the process based on a plurality of dimensions including bandwidth used. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 generating default profiles for the process connected to each network of the plurality of networks; and 
 determining whether to allow the execution of the process on a network based on the default profiles. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising providing an option to override a profile of the default profiles. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising enabling specification of at least one characteristic of each network of the plurality of networks. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the dimensions for the bandwidth management profile comprise at least one of initiation mode, running mode, performance, or network characteristics. 
     
     
       7. A system comprising:
 a processor; and 
 memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:
 generating a bandwidth management profile for a process, the bandwidth management profile identifying a plurality of networks on which the process may execute, the bandwidth management profile identifying a set of rules to control what process will be executed, the rules being based on a measurement of the bandwidth used by the process when the wireless device is connected to each one of the plurality of networks, the costs associated with the bandwidth used in each one of the plurality of networks, and the performance of each one of the networks, and wherein each rule is further based on heuristics regarding the current network conditions and the current situational conditions; 
 receiving a request to execute the process; 
 responsive to receiving the request:
 selecting, based on current network conditions, a selected network from the plurality of networks identified in the bandwidth management profile; and 
 selecting, based on current situational conditions, a rule from the set of rules for the selected network identified in the bandwidth management profile; and 
 
 executing the process on the selected network in accordance with the selected rule. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , the operations further comprising:
 categorizing the process based on a plurality of dimensions including bandwidth used. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , the operations further comprising:
 generating default profiles for the process connected to each network of the plurality of networks; and 
 determining whether to allow the execution of the process on a network based on the default profiles. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , the operations further comprising providing an option to override a profile of the default profiles. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9 , further comprising specifying at least one characteristic of each network of the plurality of networks. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the dimensions for the bandwidth management profile comprise at least one of initiation mode, running mode, performance, or network characteristics. 
     
     
       13. A computer readable storage medium that is not a propagating signal, the computer readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:
 generating a bandwidth management profile for a process, the bandwidth management profile identifying a plurality of networks on which the process may execute, the bandwidth management profile identifying a set of rules to control what process will be executed, the rules being based on a measurement of the bandwidth used by the process when the wireless device is connected to each one of the plurality of networks, the costs associated with the bandwidth used in each one of the plurality of networks, and the performance of each one of the networks, and wherein each rule is further based on heuristics regarding the current network conditions and the current situational conditions; 
 receiving a request to execute the process; 
 responsive to receiving the request:
 selecting, based on current network conditions, a selected network from the plurality of networks identified in the bandwidth management profile; and 
 selecting, based on current situational conditions, a rule from the set of rules for the selected network identified in the bandwidth management profile; and 
 
 executing the process on the selected network in accordance with the selected rule. 
 
     
     
       14. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 13 , the operations further comprising wherein the instructions to generate a bandwidth management profile comprises:
 categorizing the process based on a plurality of dimensions including the bandwidth used. 
 
     
     
       15. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 14 , the operations further comprising:
 generating default profiles for the process connected to each network of the plurality of networks; and 
 determining whether to allow the execution of the process on a network based on the default profiles. 
 
     
     
       16. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , the operations further comprising providing an option to override a profile of the default profiles. 
     
     
       17. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , the operations further comprising enabling specification of at least one characteristic of each network of the plurality of networks. 
     
     
       18. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the dimensions for the bandwidth management profile comprise at least one of initiation mode, running mode, performance, or network characteristics.